“I saw a lot of improvement from the first game we played over a week ago,” Williams said. “The girls are getting better and are buying into what we are trying to do. The communication is better.”

Redlands East Valley, ranked No. 4 in the latest CIF-Southern Section Division 5 poll, opened the season with last week’s 14-9 loss to No. 3 Warren.

“Warren was a good match for us,” Williams said. “It definitely a test to see where we were and where we need to get. They are a ranked team in our division. It was a good opportunity for us.”

REV apparently got a lot out of the loss.

“After the Warren match, we had a slow start and in a game like that five goals is really not that much,” goalie Alexis Hollinrake said. “It came down to not starting as good and we probably only had two or three weeks of practices. To be that close is good.”

“They’ve been the semifinals and I think won it a couple years ago,” he said. “They are a top-eight team in our division. They’ve been a very competitive team in our division the last few years.”

Redlands East Valley was tough to score on, and that started with Hollinrake’s work in the cage.

“We’re at about 45 percent of what our ultimate goal of playing at 100 percent is,” Hollinrake said. “We have work to do and it’s just the beginning of the season. We’re just getting better.”

Hollinrake had 13 saves and REV received goals from three players.

“I saw our senior goalie play a great game and really directed the kids,” Williams said. “Alexis is a big focal point of our defense. I saw the Wieseler sisters on offense really put us in good position.

“Overall, what I saw was improvement from the week before. That to me is the goal, to get better and better.”

Redlands East Valley also is dealing with the transition that comes with a new coach.

“It’s been easy,” Williams said. “The girls have taken it upon themselves to listen to what the coaches say. For me it’s easy because they listen. And they are out there competing and giving it 100 percent. It’s been a smooth transition.”